Geeks To Go is a helpful hub, where thousands of volunteer geeks quickly serve friendly answers and support. Check out the forums and get free advice from the experts. Register now to gain access to all of our features, it's FREE and only takes one minute. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more.

Advertisements

wannabe1

Posted 15 December 2005 - 10:58 PM

wannabe1

Tech Staff

Technician

16,645 posts

Let's run a check on the HDD...

Click Start then Run and type chkdsk /f (Note the space before /f) and click "OK". This procedure is going to want to run on reboot so go ahead and type Y at the prompt and press "Enter" Reboot your machine. This might take a while depending on what it finds...Do Not interupt this operation!

When it completes and is back to the desktop, try your machine and post back with how it is running.

Posted 15 December 2005 - 11:30 PM

wannabe1

Posted 15 December 2005 - 11:46 PM

We've got a lot of stuff to check on this machine yet...don't get discouraged. If it went through the chkdsk that quickly, then your HDD is probably ok...that's good...

Next we'll check the RAM...run this test for as long as you can...the longer it runs the better it tests the modules. Download MEMTEST, extract it, and run it. This will test the reliability of your RAM memory. Be sure to follow the instructions found HERE and it wouldn't hurt to at least glance at the "read me" file included in the download.

I'm putting together a list of updated drivers to download, but it appears that most of them are pretty close to current. We'll finish the other diagnostics first.

Matt.F

Posted 16 December 2005 - 07:15 AM

wannabe1

Posted 16 December 2005 - 08:14 AM

wannabe1

Tech Staff

Technician

16,645 posts

Mornin' Matt.F...

RAM's good...another one down...

Do you have your XP installation CD? I'd like to run a System File Check before we start throwing drivers at this machine. If you have the CD, Click Start then Run...type sfc /scannow (Note the space between sfc and /) and press "Enter". You will be asked for your installation cd, so have it handy. Wait for the scan to finish (this might take up to an hour).

Then download these Video Drivers, but don't install them yet...read the instructions on the botttom half of the download page as to how this download should be handled.

I've got to step out for a few hours this morning, but will get back to you as soon as I return.

Matt.F

Posted 16 December 2005 - 11:26 AM

Matt.F

Visiting Staff

Topic Starter

Visiting Consultant

512 posts

I ran the scan with no problems, although my CD drive is apparently having trouble recognizing CDs. I had to insert the Windows CD about 4 times for it to finally recognize it. I have a Dell software CD that came with my laptop that refuses to recognize at all. Any time I insert it and up the folder, it's completely blank. I don't know if that's related or not, though.